Highclere Castle: As seen in the Downton Abbey TV series Highclere Castle: As seen in the Downton Abbey TV series Product code: 03D Home Out of London Highclere Castle: As seen in the Downton Abbey TV series Adult from Trip Itinerary Oxford Oxford, the city of dreaming spires, boasts one of the world’s greatest - and oldest - universities, as well as some of the finest architecture in Europe. The colleges themselves, which make up the university, are amongst the architectural highlights, their ivy-clad stone walls protecting beautiful chapels, halls and libraries. A walking tour of Oxford with our guide is included before some free time to grab a bite to eat. Why not try out a pub lunch at one of the many famous inns of Oxford. Bampton Next we head for the beautiful village of Bampton in Oxfordshire Bampton is the setting for exterior village scenes in the ITV series of Downton Abbey. Visit The Church; see Matthew Crawley's mother's house, the hospital, (series two) and current people's homes, which are transformed into the Post Office as well as various pubs.

In the "hospital", which is the public library, there is also the Vesey room where the Bampton Archive is housed and various local exhibitions are set out. Downton memorabilia... Beautiful cards, prints and mugs (done by a local artist) as well as books of the filming are all on offer to purchase. Leaving Bampton we now head for Highclere Castle made famous by the Downton Abbey TV series. Highclere Castle - as seen in the Downton Abbey TV Series Built by Sir Charles Berry who also built the houses of Parliament, this is the countryseat of the Earls of Carnarvon. The tour of the Castle’s public rooms includes the magnificent public main hall, the library and sitting rooms in addition to other rooms featured in Downton Abbey. Why not spend some time enjoying the enjoying the parklands created by Lancelot “Capability” Brown who also designed the grounds of Blenheim Palace or indulge yourself with tea and cake at one of the tea rooms once you have finished touring the Castle. A signed copy of Lady Carnarvon's book will also be given to every customer on the tour. It makes for fascinating reading and is a unique souvenir to remember the day!!

Departing Highclere Castle we head back to London and arrive back at approximately 7pm. Please note that the order of visit may change from time to time. Booking conditions: Once booked there are no refunds unless Premium Tours manages to re-sell the tour ticket. Doubletree by Hilton Kensington (formerly Regency Hotel) Express Holiday Inn Victoria Grande Royale London Hyde Park Grange Strathmore Hotel NOT AVAILABLE (Holiday Inn Kensington Forum) Normandie Hotel St. James Court, A Taj Hotel Strand Palace Victoria Coach Station (Gate 13-16) customer will confirm later Highclere Castle Slider 6 News! We wish you all a Merry Christmas & New Year! Please see below for details on our Public Openings & Events next year: February 2017 - We have now released tickets for our special Valentines day event. Click here to buy! March 2017 - Treat your Mother to Afternoon Tea on Mothering Sunday! For details click here Easter/Spring Public Opening 2017 - Tickets are now on sale - click here to buy! May 2017 - We are delighted to release our Literature and Landscape Tours for May 2017 - Click here to buy!

You can enjoy over an hour of HD video, photos and conversations from behind the scenes in the Highclere App narrated by Jim Carter (who plays Carson in Downton Abbey) Highclere Castle Welcome to our website. Please enjoy exploring what it is really like behind the scenes of " The Real Downton Abbey ". Highclere is a beautiful Castle and landscape and one we delight in sharing with many thousands of visitors. Highclere Castle | Meridian - ITV News Highclere Castle Stars of Downton Abbey create Yorkshire in Hampshire Video. The new series of Downton Abbey is back this weekend. Stars from all over the country have been working on creating a little piece of Yorkshire in the Hampshire Berkshire countryside. The series is set in Yorkshire Dales but filmed at Highclere Castle in Hampshire. In the last series, as main characters were killed off, new actors came. Cara Theoblad plays kitchen maid Ivy Stuart and Ed Speleers from Chichester in Sussex is a footman. Divya Kohli went to meet them. Actor Jim Carter talks about Mr Carson's racy past Video. Summer might be drawing to a close but love is in the air at Downton Abbey.

The new series of the hit drama starts on ITV on Sunday 22nd September. It follows the lives of the Crawley family in the glorious setting of Highclere Castle on the Hampshire Berkshire border. Divya Kohli caught up with the actor Jim Carter, who was once a student at Sussex University, to hear all about his characters racy past. Countess Carnarvon at Highclere Castle in Berkshire at the opening of the Egyptian Exhibition in the cellars of the castle Credit: Steve Parsons/PA Wire The tomb of Tutankhamun was discovered 90 years ago this week Credit: ITV Meridian 90 years ago this week, the tomb of a boy king was unearthed almost in tact. Inside the tomb of Tutankhamun were treasures from an ancient civilisation. Two Englishmen were responsible for the discovery - one of them - Lord Carnarvon - whose family still live at Highclere Castle today, mysteriously died before he got see the hundreds of royal objects.

The 5th Earl of Carnarvon made the spectacular discovery In recent times Highclere Castle is known as the location for ITV's Downton Abbey - the period drama has very much become the castle's future - but we shouldn't forget the incredible past that lies beneath. Highclere Castle is now known as the setting for Downton Abbey Credit: ITV Meridian Don't miss Meridian Tonight at 6pm tonight, when Divya Kohli explores our links to ancient Egyptian treasures. Downton Abbey (Highclere Castle) Tours From London 2017 Downton Abbey (Highclere Castle) Day Tours From London 2017 4 Fully Guided Day Tours to Highclere Castle from London Highclere Castle (Downton Abbey) Tour 1: Oxford, Bampton and Highclere Castle: The Real Downton Abbey Tour Combine a visit to Highclere Castle in the afternoon with a morning visit to Oxford, the City of Dreaming Spires, boasting one of the world's greatest, and oldest universities as well as Bampton used for outdoor scenes from the TV series.

Tour 2: Downton Abbey Filming Locations and visit to Highclere Castle Visit the filming sites associated with Downton Abbey in the morning, and enjoy an afternoon in Highclere Castle, the Grantham family home in the series. Includes Yew Tree Farm, plus a visit to Downton Village and Downton Church. Tour 3: Downton Abbey Filming Locations and visit to Highclere Castle (Small Group) A similar itinerary to Tour 2 but in a small group format, maximum of 18 passengers Tour 4: Highclere Castle Special Events (Small Group) Tours The special events tours are similar itinerary to Tour 3 but operating on dates outside the normal opening season of Highclere Castle. On these special event dates travellers will typically enjoy exclusive access to the Staterooms, Gardens and Grounds of Highclere Castle, accompanied by expert guides with drinks/light refreshments provided and often much more besides. London Transport Highclere Castle Opening Dates 2017 Despite its popularity Highclere Castle has a limited visitor season. In broad outline Highclere Castle is open around Easter, the two national holiday weekends in May and a summer opening season from early July to early September.

In addition, there are occasional special event days throughout the year. It is not possible to view Highclere Castle when closed, even for a drop by photo opportunity. Highclere Castle is far from public roads out of view. There are local public footpaths where you can glimpse Highclere Castle from far off. Confirmed Opening Dates 2017 Easter – Open from around Friday 7th April to Sunday 23rd April. Early May Bank Holiday – Sunday 30th April to Tuesday 2nd May. Spring May Bank Holiday – Sunday 28th May to Tuesday 30th May. Unconfirmed Opening Dates 2017 (based on opening dates in previous years) Summer Opening – Sunday 9th July to Thursday 7th September.

Tour 1: Oxford and Highclere Castle: The Real Downton Abbey Tour 2017 Tour Highlights: - Walking tour of Oxford, home to one of the world's greatest Universities, visit the historic colleges - Visit Bampton Village used for outdoor scenes from the TV series Downton Abbey - Visit Highclere Castle and grounds made famous by the Downton Abbey TV series - Signed copy of Lady Carnarvon's autobiography Tour Itinerary Oxford First stop after around 75 minutes is Oxford, the City of Dreaming Spires, boasts one of the world's greatest - and oldest - universities, as well as some of the finest architecture in Europe. The colleges themselves, which make up the university, are amongst the architectural highlights, their ivy-clad stone walls protecting beautiful chapels, halls and libraries. A walking tour of Oxford with our guide is included before some free time to grab a bite to eat. Bampton (Downton Village) Next we head for the beautiful village of Bampton in Oxfordshire Bampton is the setting for exterior village scenes in the ITV series of Downton Abbey.

Visit the church - in real life, St Mary's Church, which played host to a number of memorable weddings funerals and christenings in Downton Abbey. See Matthew Crawley's mother's house, the hospital, (series two) and current people's homes, which are transformed into the Post Office as well as various pubs. In the "hospital", which is the public library, there is also the Vesey room where the Bampton Archive is housed and various local exhibitions are set out. Here you can purchase some Downton mementos of your time in Bampton, such as beautiful cards, prints and mugs (done by a local artist) as well as books of the filming. Highclere Castle (Downton Abbey) Highclere Castle Interior We now visit Highclere and discover an inspiring Castle set amidst Lawns and Gardens of tranquillity and beauty. It has been home to the Carnarvon Family since 1679 and the present Earl and Countess still live here. Long-standing friend of the Carnarvon family, Julian Fellowes had Highclere Castle in mind as he wrote Downton Abbey.

He often commented he wanted a house which spectacularly testified to the confidence and soaring optimism of the Edwardian period. Visitors follow a route through the Castle though rooms with guides in each State room happy to share anecdotes and information. Visitors can then go up the Red Stairs to view some of the Bedrooms and the Gallery before walking down the Oak staircase to the magnificent public main hall, the Saloon. Decorated in gothic style with rich decoration and completed in the 1860s, this space is both physically and socially the heart of the house. The library or 'withdrawing room' has on display over 5,650 books, the earliest dating from the 16th century. The Library is still used today as it was historically, as a meeting place for drinks and relaxation. As well as the castle, you will have time to explore the extensive grounds, designed by Lancelot “Capability” Brown who also designed the grounds of Blenheim Palace. Tea and cake can be taken at one of the tea rooms once you have finished touring. A signed copy of Lady Carnarvon autobiography will also be given to every customer on the tour. It makes for fascinating reading and is a unique souvenir to remember the day!

Departure Details For further information, we have a blog where on this linked page you can discuss one to one the best solution for you. Prices & Tour Reservations Prices are displayed on the banner link below. Major credit and debit cards are accepted. You will be emailed a confirmation with a booking reference after reservation. The booking reference and the name of the person ordering is all that you need to quote when joining the tour, there are no paper tickets. On the tour detail page from the link below, there is a red “Book This Tour” button at the top right of the page, which when selected displays a calendar depicting which dates still have availability. By selecting your required date you start the reservation process.

Tour 2: Downton Abbey Filming Locations and visit to Highclere Castle 2017: Tour Highlights: - Visit to Yew Tree Farm (Cogges Manor Farm) with private exclusive tour of the house - Visit to Downton Village (Bampton) and Downton Church with entry to the building used for Downton Cottage Hospital - Entry and tour of Highclere Castle and Gardens - Services of a friendly Downton Abbey specialist guide throughout the day on a luxury touring coach Tour Itinerary Yew Tree Farm Our first stop is a visit to Yew Tree Farm (Cogges Manor Farm), home of the tenant farmer Mr.Drewe. The historic farmyard and 13th century manor house sits on the banks of the River Windrush and first appeared in Downton Abbey in series 4. After a tea/coffee break in the delightfully refurbished rustic cow shed Café at Cogges, we take a tour and learn of the relationship between the tenant farmers and landowners, showing the sites used in filming. Bampton (Downton Village) After the tour we drive to Downton Village, real name Bampton, a beautiful village in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds.

The village of Bampton has been used extensively in all series of Downton Abbey for Downton Village filming. You will see Downton Cottage Hospital and Doctors surgery (in real life the library), St.Mary's Church (where many wedding and funeral scenes were shot), Churchgate House for exterior shots for the Crawley family home, and the street used for shops, the Post Office and the Grantham Arms. Highclere Castle In the early afternoon we make our way to the Grantham Family home, Highclere Castle. On arrival at Highclere Castle there will be time to enjoy the beautiful gardens. There will be time for lunch, or a snack in the Tearooms before entering Highclere Castle for an afternoon visit. Departure Details The tour makes several pick-ups at key strategic locations through major hotel districts in London 7:20 a.m. - Great Russell Street, outside British Museum main entrance (nearest Underground Russell Square) 7:30 a.m. - International Students House Car Park, 229 Great Portland Street, W1W 5PN (nearest Underground Great Portland Street / Regents Park) 7:40 a.m.

- Outside Cumberland Hotel, Marble Arch (nearest Underground Marble Arch) 8:00 a.m. - Outside Premier Inn, Knaresborough Place, Earls Court (nearest Underground Earls Court) The tour returns to London (Victoria) by 6:30 p.m. Prices & Tour Reservations Prices displayed on the banner link are the current prices for this tour. Major credit and debit cards are accepted. You will be emailed a confirmation with a booking reference after reservation. The booking reference and the name of the person ordering is all that you need to quote when joining the tour, there are no paper tickets. On the tour detail page loaded from the banner link below, there is a date drop-down at the top right of the page, which depicts which dates still have availability. By selecting your required date you start the reservation process. Once we list a date for operation it is guaranteed to run, there are no minimum numbers. Tour 3: Downton Abbey Filming Locations and visit to Highclere Castle (Small Group): A very similar itinerary to Tour 2 but in a small group format, maximum of 18 passengers.

Tour 4 : Downton Abbey, Highclere Castle Special Event Day (Small Group): A very similar itinerary to Tour 3 but includes attendance at Highclere Castle on a special event day outside the normal opening season of Highclere Castle. At this moment in time there are no special events with availability: Highclere Castle (Downton Abbey) Tour Availability From London 2017 Highclere Castle day tours from London are few and far between, normally opening dates are restricted between July and early September and national holidays at Easter and in May. If you want to visit Highclere on a day tour from London it is not a matter of picking and choosing your tour, it's just grab the tour when available for your dates before it sells out! Tour Downton Abbey: The End Is Near For The Series But The Real Mansion Is Forever Downton Abbey: The End Is Near For The Series But The Real Mansion Is Forever {{article.article.images.featured.caption}} Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Full Bio The author is a Forbes contributor. The opinions expressed are those of the writer. Loading ... Loading ...

This story appears in the {{article.article.magazine.pretty_date}} issue of {{article.article.magazine.pubName}}. Subscribe While American Downton Abbey fans settle in Sunday for the beginning of the end of their addiction, they can always get a fix of another kind even after the phenomenally popular series closes with season six: Visit the real castle. Highclere Castle, the Georgian mansion that has served as the set for the show, will offer a new season of programs for the legions of visitors who flock each year to its stately grounds, sumptuous rooms and servants quarters. The cast of Downton Abbey in front of the real Downton Abbey In an art-imitates-life moment in this season's storyline, which has already aired in Britain, Ladies Mary, Edith, and Cora join Tom in a discussion of opening Downton to the public to benefit a local charity. In fact, Highclere Castl e, the real star of the ITV period drama that has thrilled audiences on PBS's Masterpiece Theater , is open to the public from around mid-July to mid-September, and available year-round for weddings, corporate events, private dinners, charity functions and special celebrations.

It's located in the southern county of Berkshire, near the parish of Highclere between London and Bath. As the saga of Lord Grantham, his family and servants winds down in 1925, life in 'Downton For Real' beats on as it has for centuries, a working sheep farm and tourist destination, among other activities. That said, it has become far more renowned, popular and prosperous since the series started filming there in 2010. Through its five seasons, the tragedies and joys of the Crowley family rocketed in popularity for a grateful PBS, doubling from five million in its first year to more than 10 million viewers in its penultimate series and shining an international spotlight on Masterpiece Theater. It has done the same for Highclere Castle, transforming the lives of its real owners, the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon, their family, their many dogs and their chefs, gardeners, housekeepers, valets, butlers, and grooms, an army which varies between 60 and 150 depending on the season.

With its 300 rooms and 5,000 acres, Highclere Castle is a working estate, one of the UK's best-known Victorian castles and the home of George Reginald Oliver Molyneux Herbert, 8th Earl of Carnarvon , and his wife Lady Fiona Aitken Herbert . Lord and Lady Carnarvon Photo: Highclere Castle Highclere Castle is open for tours, organized visits, family days, concerts and other events, and available for hire for private bookings. It's been a frequent location for other film and TV productions, including Robin Hood, the Secret Garden, Jeeves and Wooster, Eyes Wide Shut, Agatha Christie and a number of music videos and commercials. But those paled next to the renown it's gained from its latest star turn. The setting couldn’t have been more natural for the creator of Downton Abbey, Julian Fellowes. A long-time friend of the real Earl and Lady, he based aspects of the fictional story on the Carnarvons’ history.

Downton Abbey TV Series & Filming Location - VisitHampshire.co.uk Downton Abbey TV Series & Filming Location Highclere Castle North Hampshire "Papa, you're always saying how we're not the owners of Downton, but the caretakers. Very well, now let's take care of it.” Lady Mary You’ve seen the show, been amazed by its historical accuracy and have been brought into the everyday lives and interactions of its main characters, but what’s next? If you are a real Downton Abbey fan, why not visit the real life location of where the series was filmed? The popular ITV period drama Downton Abbey is filmed at Hampshire’s Highclere Castle to the north of the county. Set within 1000 acres of parkland, the castle and its grounds double as the Downton Abbey estate, home to the fictional Crawley family. Visiting Highclere Castle Highclere Castle opens to visitors at various times of the year, although tickets do sell out quickly. Visitors who want to explore the house can walk through the lower floor state rooms which include the hallway, dining room, drawing room and library (all of which are used in the TV series).

See where Lady Mary sleeps when exploring the bedrooms, outdoor grounds and Egyptian exhibition. "Sometimes I feel as if I were living in an H.G. Wells novel." Dowager Countess History Of The ‘Real’ Downton Abbey In reality the property’s history dates back 1300 years when a former house on the site was owned by the Bishops of Winchester, hence the term ‘abbey.’ In the 18th century, the gardens were sculpted by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown, a landscape architect who designed more than 170 gardens. The estate has strong links with Egyptian history, when in 1922 the 5th Earl of Carnarvon discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun with Howard Carter. The castle boasts an Egyptian exhibition with a vast array of artefacts discovered during this period. Highclere has been the home to the Carnarvon family since 1679 and Lord and Lady Carnarvon run the estate today. Lady Carnarvon recently said: ‘It’s possibly the most important Victorian House still lived in in England today.’ (Forbes).

Over the years the property has been used for different purposes, including a hospital and a home for evacuee children during the war, similar to episodes from series 2 of Downton Abbey. “The estate must be a major employer and support the house or there's no point. To any of it.” Lord Grantham Downton Abbey - Fun Facts Isis the dog (who passed away in series 5) is actually Lord and Lady Carnarvon’s real family pet. Laura Carmichael, who plays Lady Edith, was born and brought up in Southampton . The castle is a popular stopover for the Queen when she visits the nearby Newbury races. Only the ‘upstairs’ scenes are filmed at Highclere. The servants’ quarters are all filmed at a studio in Ealing. Lord Julian Fellowes actually had Highclere Castle in mind when he wrote the first series. Former X-Files star Gillian Anderson reportedly turned down the part of Lady Grantham. Hollywood actor Harrison Ford once asked Julian Fellowes for a guest slot on the show. In the past George Clooney, Shirley MacLaine and Richard E. Grant have all made cameos.

It’s not just Downton Abbey that’s been filmed at Highclere Castle. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Eyes Wide Shut and The Secret Garden have all been shot there too! "I'm a woman, Mary. I can be as contrary as I choose." Dowager Countess Explore Nearby There’s plenty to see and do around the Highclere estate. North Hampshire is a stunning part of the county, boasting miles of open countryside and clean, fresh air. Whether combining a day trip to Highclere with another attraction , or planning a longer stay, there are plenty of options for sightseeing in the area. The pretty town of Whitchurch lies just over 9 miles to the east of Highclere Castle. Visitors can explore its historic 19th century silk mill which sits along the River Test . There is the chance to enjoy lunch in one of the town’s many delicious pubs and cafés . On the outskirts of Whitchurch in Laverstoke, sits the new state-of-the-art Bombay Sapphire gin distillery. Here visitors can find out all about the gin making process, before sampling a specially prepared gin cocktail. To the south of Highclere lies the Test Valley .

Known for its unspoilt countryside and pretty market towns, this is a great place to spend an afternoon exploring. Garden enthusiasts often enjoy spending time at Sir Harold Hillier Gardens and National Trust property Mottisfon t. Located less than 30 miles away from Highclere, these are perfect additions to any itinerary. More information on Downton Abbey and its links with the county can be found on the Film Hampshire website . Trying to Turn a Castle Into a Cash Register - The New York Times The New York Times Fashion & Style |A Castle Becomes a Cash Register Search Continue reading the main story Photo Visitors pay $27 to visit Highclere Castle, which costs $1.5 million a year to maintain. Credit Luke Wolagiewicz for The New York Times WEST BERKSHIRE, England — Lady Carnarvon, a self-described “prudent Scottish accountant,” doesn’t mind buses coughing and screeching onto the gravel driveway of her country estate and depositing 1,500 fans each day at her doorstep.

In fact, she eagerly welcomes the visitors to Highclere Castle who pay the $27 admission fee, buy the $14.50 guidebooks and don’t leave without souvenirs like a $23 polo shirt with Highclere Castle etched on the front. Why the attraction? Lady Carnarvon’s home is the fictional setting for the TV series “Downton Abbey,” and she is determined to cash in. As she told a visitor while scrambling to find a place for lunch that wasn’t already occupied by tourists, the location fees paid for the use of Highclere “are not going to pay for the roof.” Lady Carnarvon was known as Fiona Aitken before she married Geordie Herbert, the Eighth Earl of Carnarvon and Queen Elizabeth II’s godson, in 1999. She has become the face of Highclere as her husband devotes himself to the less-glamorous operational side of running this vast estate, and speaks with the proper accent of a countess and the numeric frankness of a chief financial officer. “If you win the lottery, you’re winning something called cash,” she said.

“With ‘Downton,’ it’s how it can turn in to something like cash.” The television show has brought worldwide fame to Highclere Castle (which Lady Carnarvon’s husband’s family has owned since the late 17th century), especially among what she calls “lots of lovely Americans.” But the house costs $1.5 million a year to run, and it has not received the windfall that viewers of the show would assume. Continue reading the main story It certainly didn’t provide the fortune brought by Almina Wombwell, the Fifth Countess of Carnarvon and daughter of Alfred de Rothschild, who married into the family in 1895; that paid for the first electricity and plumbing. The current Lady Carnarvon recognizes that keeping a house like Highclere financially solvent and in the family is far more difficult today. Advertisement Continue reading the main story “It’s both my husband’s family home and my home, but it has to work in the modern world — it has to be a business,” she said as she finished lunch and asked her assistant to provide her something sweet. “Yes, my lady,” he said and promptly returned with a jelly doughnut.

Lady Carnarvon is such an advocate of prudent finances that she would seem to have more in common with Suze Orman than with her husband’s pedigreed relations. As she gazed out from the footmen’s rooms onto the tents on Highclere’s lawns, she talked about all her efforts to pay for Highclere Castle’s costly renovations, like running a working farm to produce horse feed and hosting events there like an Easter egg hunt that required relocating a field of lambs to make room for visitors. Photo Lady Carnarvon, the former Fiona Aitken, has become the face of Highclere Castle. Credit Luke Wolagiewicz for The New York Times In addition to bringing in more film and television companies to shoot in Highclere’s less recognizable chambers, she has rented out the home for weddings, including that of the model Katie Price, at rates starting at about $22,000. A Richmond, Va.-based speaker’s bureau, Arnett & Associates , handles Lady Carnarvon’s speaking engagements, with fees starting at $20,000. Then there are her books.

“ Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey ,” which was published in 2011, made the New York Times best-seller list and sold a respectable 157,000 copies. (She is writing another book, about her husband’s ancestors, specifically Catherine Wendell, the American-born Sixth Countess of Carnarvon.) Through all of this fund-raising, she still tries to make Highclere Castle feel like a real home, with magazines strewn on the night tables of bedrooms recognizable to “Downton Abbey” fans and family photographs featuring the royals strategically placed throughout common rooms. Her family spends much of its time exiled to a cottage 20 yards away, where the countess said she keeps the “dogs, rabbits, trampolines, Xbox.” That’s where on a recent afternoon, Lady Carnarvon’s son, Edward, played with her husband’s son from his first marriage, George. “I never rest,” she said. “I am always looking for the next trick.” Not everyone has been pleased with how she has tried to make money off Highclere.

A former boyfriend, the baronet Sir Benjamin Slade (who successfully sued her in the late 1990s after their breakup over the custody of their dog, Jasper, prompting the tabloids to brand her “Feisty Fiona”), called the Carnarvons “grave robbers” for their discovery of the tombs of Tutankhamen. The biggest affront took place in 2010, when their neighbor Andrew Lloyd Webber tried to buy Highclere Castle from the Carnarvons so that he would have more room for his paintings. It’s an offer that still angers the affable Lady Carnarvon. “That cuts right to the heart, that an English person’s home is his castle,” she said. “In our view, it wasn’t particularly neighborly.” Advertisement Continue reading the main story The current residents of Highclere are not the first to have money worries. In the 1840s, the Third Earl of Carnarvon ran into financial trouble when he tried to expand the house and estate too quickly and ran out of money, according to David Brock, who has worked as an inspector for English Heritage on Highclere Castle.

Lady Almina’s fortune saved the house in 1895 from the Fifth Earl’s debts. Photo A publicity photo for “Downton Abbey” shows Highclere Castle as many television viewers in the United States imagine it to look. Credit Nick Briggs/ITV for Masterpiece Even now, these cash-flow problems have not ended for Lady Carnarvon and her husband. A 2009 article in The Daily Mail shows Lord Carnarvon posing in rooms covered in mold that required $18 million in repairs. Lady Carnarvon, the oldest of six daughters, studied at St. Andrews and went on to start a clothing line called Azure. She met her husband at a dinner party in 1996, when she was still grieving the death of her father, and Lord Carnarvon was recovering from the end of his first marriage to another aristocrat. The couple first bonded over bleak World War I poetry. She credits her father-in-law, the Seventh Earl of Carnarvon, with setting Highclere on a stronger financial course. He reached an agreement with English Heritage to open the house to the public for part of the year in exchange for delaying the payment of death taxes.

He also allowed in film crews, and Stanley Kubrick used the castle’s library to film an orgy scene from his movie “Eyes Wide Shut.” Lady Carnarvon said that though she has never seen the movie, she is grateful to Mr. Kubrick for spending so much time there because proceeds from the film helped pay to restore the pale-green silk wallpaper in the house’s drawing room. “Hollywood are gorgeous because they have much, much more money,” she said. Highclere’s television break came when Lady Carnarvon met Julian Fellowes, the creator of “Downton Abbey,” through his wife, Emma, at a sports match for her stepson. He first wanted to film “Gosford Park” there. She said that Mr. Fellowes pays a daily rental in the midrange of what historic homes typically get. Harvey Edgington, a broadcast and media manager for the National Trust , said television dramas typically pay $4,500 to $5,300 a day. Filming “Downton Abbey” has not been without its drawbacks.

Highclere had to cut the number of weddings held there to 20 a year (down from 25 to 30) to accommodate filming. Then there is the cost of wear and tear. The countess is still working out with the show’s crew how much it will cost to repair a dining table that it ironed on. Lady Carnarvon expects it will take “blooming ages to fix.” Perhaps the most surprising part of Lady Carnarvon’s efforts is that because of English laws of inheritance, the house she is working so hard to preserve will pass to her husband’s son from his first marriage when he dies. But she seems at peace to someday move out of Highclere and is only grateful that “Downton Abbey” may have helped set the house on a stable financial course long after she is gone. “We’ve been here for 1,300 years,” Lady Carnarvon said. “I tell ‘Downton’: ‘You’re delightful. But you’re only here for four or five years.’ ” A version of this article appears in print on May 26, 2013, on Page ST1 of the New York edition with the headline: A Castle Becomes a Cash Register.

Order Reprints | Today's Paper | Subscribe Goodbye to Downton - Series filmed in Hampshire ends | Meridian - ITV News 25 December 2015 at 10:23am Goodbye to Downton - Series filmed in Hampshire ends Final episode of Downton Abbey airs tonight Photo: ITV The ITV drama series Downton Abbey ends this evening at 8.45pm with the final episode of the show, featuring the lives of an upper class family and their staff below stairs at a stately home. The series penned by Julian Fellowes has been a success across the world. It was filmed at Highclere Castle on the Hampshire / Berkshire border. Hampshire County Council has said that spending by the production team has brought the count's economy £8 million each year. Highclere Castle, Bampton & Oxford: Downton Abbey Filming Locations Tour - London | Expedia Highclere Castle, Bampton & Oxford: Downton Abbey Filming Locations Tour by Premium Tours Duration 10h Nonrefundable No booking or credit card fees Mobile Voucher Accepted Price Not Available Check Availability Previous image, 5 total items. Next image, 5 total items. Amazing!

5/5 Expedia Guest Rating Discover the real-life charm of filming locations used in the famed TV series Downton Abbey. Your behind-the-scenes tour allows you to visit the setting for the show’s exterior village scenes in Bampton, wander the beautiful old town of Oxford, and relish in the beauty of Highclere Castle. Start on your Downton Abbey adventure as you head to Oxford—the City of Dreaming Spires. Walk around the stunning center with its Gothic churches, chapels, and medieval college buildings. Afterward, enjoy some free time and opt to grab lunch at one of the traditional pubs, or stroll the cobbled streets and learn more about the area’s culture. Continue to Bampton, a classic British hamlet that serves as the central backdrop for the hit drama. See Mathew Crawley’s mother’s house, pass Downton hospital, and stop at the Vesey room, where the Bampton Archive is stored and various local exhibitions are displayed. At Highclere Castle, get an insider’s look at the “real” Downton Abbey and uncover the history behind the walls that were built by Sir Charles Berry.

Get a chance to view the public area, the glorious main hall, the library, and the sitting room—all featured in the award-winning show. You also have the opportunity to explore the majestic castle grounds at your leisure. Admire the fine interiors, saunter through the scenic parklands, or indulge in a cream tea, before heading back to London with a signed copy of real-life countess Lady Carnarvon’s newest book. Discover the real-life charm of filming locations used in the famed TV series Downton Abbey. Your behind-the-scenes tour allows you to visit the setting for the show’s exterior village scenes in Bampton, wander the beautiful old town of Oxford, and relish in the beauty of Highclere Castle. Start on your Downton Abbey adventure as you head to Oxford—the City of Dreaming Spires. Walk around the stunning center with its Gothic churches, chapels, and medieval college buildings. Afterward, enjoy some free time and opt to grab lunch at one of the traditional pubs, or stroll the cobbled streets and learn more about the area’s culture. Continue to Bampton, a classic British hamlet that serves as the central backdrop for the hit drama.

See Mathew Crawley’s mother’s house, pass Downton hospital, and stop at the Vesey room, where the Bampton Archive is stored and various local exhibitions are displayed. At Highclere Castle, get an insider’s look at the “real” Downton Abbey and uncover the history behind the walls that were built by Sir Charles Berry. Get a chance to view the public area, the glorious main hall, the library, and the sitting room—all featured in the award-winning show. You also have the opportunity to explore the majestic castle grounds at your leisure. Admire the fine interiors, saunter through the scenic parklands, or indulge in a cream tea, before heading back to London with a signed copy of real-life countess Lady Carnarvon’s newest book. Downton Abbey Day Trip with Highclere Castle, Oxford and Bampton - Tour London Downton Abbey Day Trip with Highclere Castle, Oxford and Bampton No booking or credit card fees Castle East lawn of the castle Highclere Castle Library North east corner of the Castle University of Oxford Downloading... What To Expect Visit Highclere Castle right where the Downton Abbey TV series was filmed, on a full day tour from London!

Just after the walking tour of Oxford see the Bampton Village used for outdoor scenes from the TV series. Get a signed copy of Lady Carnavon's autobiography. A truly unforgettable experience, all in one day! Highlights See where the Downton Abbey TV series was filmed! Visit Bampton Village and the setting for exterior village scenes in the ITV series of Downton Abbey. Grab an autographed copy of Lady Carnarvon's autobiography Go on a walking tour of Oxford with a professional tour guide and see the world-famous Oxford University Explore the real Downton Abbey at Highclere Castle in Hampshire Specifications Hotel Pick-up or Victoria Coach Station Duration: 10 hours and 45 minutes Availability: Print voucher. You will not have access to the tour without this voucher. Languages: Featured On: Highclere Castle from London  Downton Abbey from London  London Segway & Walking Tours  London City Tours & Sightseeing  Segway & Walking Tours  City Tours & Sightseeing Description From London, head first to the University town of Oxford. The city of dreaming spires, boasts of one of the world's greatest and oldest universities, as well as some of the finest architecture in Europe.

The colleges themselves are amongst the architectural heritage of the city; ivy-clad stone walls protect beautiful chapels, halls and libraries. Go on a guided walking tour of Oxford before having some free time to grab a bite to eat. Try out a pub lunch at one of the many famous inns of Oxford. Next, head for the beautiful village of Bampton in Oxfordshire. Bampton is the setting for exterior village scenes in the ITV series of Downton Abbey. Visit The Church, see Matthew Crawley's mother's house, the hospital and current people's homes, which are transformed into the Post Office as well as various pubs in the series. In the 'hospital', which is the public library, there is also the Vesey room where the Bampton Archive is housed and various local exhibitions are on display. Downton memorabilia such as beautiful cards, prints and mugs as well as books of the filming are all on offer to purchase. Then head straight to the Highclere Castle made famous by the Downton Abbey TV series. See the magnificent public main hall, the library and the sitting rooms as featured in Downton Abbey.

Then enjoy the park lands created by Lancelot 'Capability' Brown who also designed the grounds of Blenheim Palace. Savor a cup of tea and cake at one of the tea rooms after touring the Castle. A signed copy of Lady Carnarvon's autobiography will also be given out to every customer on the tour. Grab the opportunity to have a good read and it is also a unique souvenir to remember this enchanting day! Departing Highclere Castle, we head back to London and arrive back at approximately 7pm. Includes Signed copy of Lady Carnarvon's autobiography Walking tour of Oxford Please be advised that Highclere Castle is closed for the month of June. Children 3 years old and below are free of charge if seated on adult's lap. This tour involves a fair amount of walking, comfortable shoes are recommended. Weather can be very changeable in London, please make sure you bring adequate rain wear if required. No refunds will be given for unused vouchers once booking is confirmed.

Question: Highciere Castle is the main exterior location of which ITV TV series?
Answer: DOWNTON ABBEY